Buddleja Plant Named &#39;BotEx 001&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named ‘Botex 001’ that is characterized by its very compact, dense, and upright-rounded plant habit, its flowers that are intense purple in color, its very floriferous blooming habit, and its flowers that have a pleasant fragrance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Community Plant VarietyOffice (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2020/3377 filed onJan. 13, 2021, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which isincorporated by reference herein. This application is also co-pendingwith a U.S. Plant patent application filed for a plant derived from thesame breeding program from the same parentage that is entitled BuddlejaPlant Named ‘Botex 002’ (U.S. Plant patent pending)*. *(Applicant givesthe examiner the authority to replace the U.S. Plant patent pending withan Application No. or Patent No. if applicable and delete thisstatement.)

Botanical classification: Buddleja davidii.

Variety denomination: ‘Botex 001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddlejadavidii will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Botex 001’.‘Botex 001’ is a new shrub grown for use as an ornamental landscapeplant.

The new cultivar of Buddleja is a selection from an ongoing breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands withthe objective of creating new cultivars of Buddleja with very neat andcompact plant habits combined with unique flower colors and floriferousblooming habits.

The Inventor made a cross in summer of 2018 between an unnamed andunpatented proprietary plants in the Inventor's breeding program;reference no. 11010 as the female parent and reference no. 263 as themale parent. The Inventor selected ‘Botex 001’ in summer of 2019 as asingle unique plant amongst the seedlings that resulted from the abovecross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor using stem cuttings in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands in Augustof 2019. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Botex 001’ as a unique cultivar of Buddleja.

-   -   1. ‘Botex 001’ exhibits a very compact, dense, and        upright-rounded plant habit.    -   2. ‘Botex 001’ exhibits flowers that are intense purple in        color.    -   3. ‘Botex 001’ exhibits a very floriferous blooming habit.    -   4. ‘Botex 001’ exhibits flowers that have a pleasant fragrance.

The female parent of ‘Botex 001’ differs from ‘Botex 001’ in havinginflorescences that are shorter in length with flowers that are lighterpurple in color and in having a less upright and more spreading planthabit. The male parent of ‘Botex 001’ differs from ‘Botex 001’ in havinginflorescences that are smaller in size and less dense with flowercenters that are purple in color and in having a less upright and morespreading plant habit. ‘Botex 001’ can also be compared to the Buddlejacultivars ‘Nanho Purple’ (not patented) and ‘BotEx 002’. ‘Nanho Purple’differs from ‘Botex 001’ in having a taller plant height and spreadingplant habit with arching branches. ‘Botex 002’ differs from ‘Botex 001’in having a more spreading plant habit and flowers that are lighter andmore lilac in color.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited towebsite listings by Podoslonami, Groen Vandaag, Plantago, Greenport,Gabot, Bloemenkrant, Floricade, Plamntipp, Hortipoint, CG Concept,Stad+Groen, Floranews, Tuinzaken, Handel & Techniek, Van Son & Koot BV,KVBC, Perishablenews, Hortweek, Buddlejagarden, Boom-in-Business,Greenity, and Obst & Garden.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Buddleja.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was taken of a plant about 3 years in age asgrown outdoors in a trial garden in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands. Thephotograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the overall plant habit of‘Botex 001’ in bloom.

The photographs in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 were taken of a 1-year-old plant asgrown in a 19-cm container in a greenhouse in Kaatsheuvel, TheNetherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Botex 001’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘Botex001’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Buddleja.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of one-year-old plants as grownin a greenhouse in 19-cm containers in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with the 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—July to October in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous perennial shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright-rounded, dense.        -   Plant size.—An average of 35 cm in height and 43 cm in width            as a one-year-old plant in a container and an average of 80            cm in height and 80 to 90 cm in height when grown in the            landscape.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Root development.—An average of 8 weeks to initiate roots            and eight weeks to fully root as a young plant in a P9            container.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.-   Branch description:    -   -   Branch shape.—Quadrangular.        -   Branch color.—Young stems; 145B, mature stems; 199A.        -   Branch strength.—Strong.        -   Branch size.—An average of 26 cm in length and 5 mm in            diameter.        -   Branch surface.—Pubescent.        -   Branch internode length.—Average of 2 cm.        -   Branching.—1 main branch, 4 lateral branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Narrowly elliptical to elliptical.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface 144A, lower            surface 191D with main vein 145B.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Both sides are smooth and matte, lower surface            pubescent.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 11 cm in length and 3.1 cm in            width.        -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 10 per stem.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 137C, base 145C, young            lower surface; 191A, mature upper surface; 137A, mature            lower surface; 191D.        -   Petioles.—An average of 5 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter,            medium to high strength, both surfaces 145B in color, upper            surface smooth and glabrous, lower surface slightly            pubescent.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Compound terminal and axial panicles.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 5.3 cm in height, 3.8 cm            in width.        -   Flower fragrance.—Sweet, pleasant and medium strength.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—An average of 5 days, persistent,            inflorescence is semi-indeterminate.        -   Flower buds.—Oblong, average of 6 mm in length and 1 mm in            diameter, 83A in color.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright.        -   Flower quantity.—An average of 150 flowers per            inflorescence.        -   Flower type.—Single, salverform.        -   Flower surface.—All surfaces glabrous and smooth.        -   Flower size.—An average of 7 mm in height, 1.2 cm in depth,            flower throat; 1 mm in diameter, flower tube; 3 mm in            length, 1 mm in diameter.        -   Peduncles.—An average of 2 cm in length and 2.5 mm in            diameter, held erect, 145A in color, strong, glossy and            pubescent surface.        -   Pedicels.—An average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter,            held at an average angle of 45°, 145B in color, strong,            surface is glossy and pubescent.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate in shape, an average of 2 mm in depth and            1 mm in diameter.        -   Sepals.—4, 1 whorl, rotate arrangement, fused into a            campanulate shape, 2 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width,            lanceolate in shape, acute apex, fused base, entire margin,            both surface are matte and slightly pubescent, color; when            opening and fully open upper and lower surface 145A.        -   Petals.—Average of 4, rotate, fused into salverform, 1            whorl, roughly spathulate in shape, slightly undulate            margin, rounded apex, an average of 3 mm in length and            width, upper and lower surface is glabrous, velvety and            matte, color; upper and lower surface when opening and fully            open 90B, center 23A, flower throat 77A, flower tube 21B,            base 77A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, 3 mm in length, style; an average of 2            mm in length, 145D in color, stigma; elongated, 1 mm in            length and 145B in color, ovary is 145D in color.        -   Androcoecium.—Stamens; 4, filament; 4 mm in length and 20B            in color, anther; ovate in shape, 1 mm in length, 11D in            color, pollen; low in quantity, 11D in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—No seeds or fruit observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant named‘Botex 001’ as herein illustrated and described.